Clever Tortoise

A Tanzanian folk story, presented in a beautiful picture book format, this is a charming variation on the theme of the mighty defeated by a collision of their own vanity with the wisdom of the humble. It begins on the banks of Lake Nyasa, where the animals live in Eden-like serenity. One day, elephant suddenly becomes aware of his own immensity and begins to noisily brag about it. Hippopotamus catches on and joins in the dangerously boisterous roistering. The serenity of Lake Nyasa is destroyed, but only until Clever Tortoise, in a cunning stunt of problem solving, challenges each of the boastful hulks to a tug o' war. You can probably guess what happens next. This is a simple but rich little story which will give younger readers much scope for participation and discussion. The illustrations are a delight - radiant, intricate depictions of the flora, fauna, earth, sky and water of a vanished paradise. Great for reading aloud or just for looking at.